‘My employer abandoned me after I was bitten by snake’

A former Ruixing Company Limited (owner of Saturn Quarry) employee, Nsikak Ossom Ittu, has demanded N10 million compensation from the firm after suffering a snakebite at work.

Through his lawyer, he said the firm abandoned him after the incident.

In an April 16 letter to the company’s Managing Director over what he called inhuman treatment and gross violation of his rights, Ittu said he was employed as a truck driver last year in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

He was subsequently transferred without notice to Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, to work on a railway construction project on January 24.

He said he and other truck drivers, on reporting to duty, discovered that no accommodation arrangements were made for them.

He said they were forced to sleep in their trucks and defecate in a nearby forest.

“Our client informed us that shortly after a meeting was held on a Sunday among the drivers, he moved to a nearby forest to quickly relieve himself.

“After relieving himself, he stood up and was confounded that he had been held down by a big snake that wound itself around his legs and up his body.

“He called for help and struggled with all his might for dear life, trying to extricate himself from the grip of the snake.

“This led to the snake tightening its grip and severely throwing him around the bush.

“Fortuitously, the snake suddenly released its grip on our client and he escaped, after which he dragged himself to the side of the road, where he thereafter lost consciousness.

“Our client was rescued by his fellow drivers who said they heard his faint cry for help but did not realise it was him and he could only mutter snake repeatedly before he passed out.

“These drivers took our client to a traditional healer that night, and there he slowly regained consciousness,” Ittu’s lawyer wrote.

He said the incident was reported to the transport manager, Mr. Suong, who allegedly refused to take any action.

Ittu said his plea for financial help from the company to run prescribed tests at a hospital was refused.

“We are further informed by our client that your company did not take out compulsory insurance, there are no provisions for his and others’ pension, health and safety precautions, expenses and maintenance, among many others as required under the Labour Act.

“We have advised our client as to his entitlements, especially in this circumstance and your criminal liabilities under the Nigerian labour laws.

“Unless you pay our client the sum of N10 million only 14 days hereof, we shall not hesitate to take lawful steps for damages against your company,” the letter adds.

Ittu’s lawyer sent a final demand notice to the firm on June 3, noting that the firm “without cause or lawful justification flagrantly refused to accede to the lawful demand of our client” in the April 16 letter.

The lawyer said his client’s condition “has deteriorated to the extent that he is in untold pains, experiences uncontrolled panic attacks, especially in the dark, trauma and endless sleepless nights.”

But, when contacted by our correspondent, Suong denied any liability.

He said in a text message: “You should ask him why he went to the bush alone while no other person did the same thing during our work there for six months.”